They found a manatee engraved with the word “Trump” …

This Sunday, four days after the takeover of the United States Capitol organized by supporters of the outgoing president, environmentalists found a manatee with the word “Trump” engraved on its back. The country’s environmental authorities have condemned the “cruel and illegal mutilation” of the animal, found in the waters of the Homosassa River on the west coast of Florida, and various activist groups have offered a reward of $ 5,000 to find the manager.

The video of the manatee with evidence of torture was published by the local Citrus County Chronicle, a record which was later confirmed by a spokesperson for the Federal Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). According to the FWS, there is already a investigation underway to identify perpetrators.

For its part, the Florida Center for Biological Diversity recalled Tuesday that the harassment of this marine species “is a federal criminal offense punishable by a fine of $ 50,000 and up to one year in prison“because it is a vulnerable species protected since the 1960s by the laws on endangered species and the protection of marine mammals.

“It is heartbreaking that this manatee has been subjected to this vile criminal act,” said Jaclyn López, director of the Center in Florida. “It is clear that whoever has harmed this helpless and gentle giant is capable of committing serious acts of violence and must be arrested immediately.“he added.

Florida has an approximate population of 7,500 manatees, also known as “sea cows”. They are herbivorous mammals familiar to the elephant, with whiskers on the snout, languid eyes and a spoon tail. Despite their enormous size – they can reach four meters and weigh half a ton – they are the easy victims of boats that navigate at very high speed in canals or coastal areas.

According to figures from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, of the 637 manatees that died in 2020, 90 died from collisions with boats and 15 from other human causes: The shallow waters of the canals make them accessible to tourists, who go on excursions to swim among the gentle sirenids, and animal trackers.